The missile was launched yesterday from the Barents Sea and hit the target in the Kura rifle range on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Russians speak of "test" and not of operational missile as it happened on the first of November. To launch the Bulava was in that case the second nuclear-powered submarine 'Borey' class "Yury Dolgoruky".
The first of the new tests took place on 10 last September. To launch the Bulava ballistic missile, the nuclear-powered submarine 'Borey' class "Vladimir Monomakh". The missile has successfully reached the target.
The problem with the whole 'Borey' class is that it cannot still enter service because it does not have the armament to do it.
Each 'Borey' should carry from sixteen to twenty missiles 'Bulava' (only for 955U), each of which has from six to ten Mirv warheads. Eight class 'Borey' submarines will equip the Russian Navy within the 2020.
The 'Bulava' three-stage missile, code-named Nato SS-N-30 Mace, is the naval version of the most advanced Russian ballistic missile, the SS-27 Topol-M. It can also be launched in motion. It carries up to 10 warheads Mirv, can hit targets up to eight thousand kilometers away and is designed to exclusively equip 'Borey' class nuclear submarines.
Despite numerous failures due to manufacturing defects, the Russian army claims that there is no alternative to 'Bulava'. Due to the failure during the testing of the new 'Bulava' intercontinental missiles, the 'Borey' are not yet able to carry out their primary task and, that is, nuclear deterrence.
The first 'Borey', the 'Yury Dolgoruky' K535, joined the Northern Fleet in January last year, followed by the K-550 (Project 955A) "Aleksandr Nevskij" at the end of December. The "Vladimir Monomakh" has now completed sea trials, while the fourth "Borey", the "Knyaz Vladimir" has been under construction since July 2012 at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia.
Construction of the fifth nuclear-powered submarine will begin by the end of the 2014. 'Borey' class submarines will form the backbone of the Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent. They will replace the Typhoon, Delta-3 and Delta-4 class submarines.
Franco Iacch
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
